Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-08-26
Greentop Crum bs..

very nice rain which is much ap-
preciated by every one.
w. A. McKeehan who went
from this place to Kansas two
weeks ago, writes back that when
he arrived at his destination in
that state, he found everything
dried up, 50 severe has been the
drought in that country. He also
said he had been cutting corn
for three days and in all that time
he had not cut one stalk with an
ear on it; no, not even a nubbin.
Just tlink of that, you who are
contemplating going to Kansas,
and we believe you will conclude
to remain in gocd old Missouri.
Tice and Parker are having q
new front put to their store room.
w. b. Reynolds has built new ap-
proaches to his warehouse, and
rebuilt in part, the walk from his
store to the depot.
Lorez Phelps has moved his
family to Moberly, Mr.. Phelps
having secured position as
brakeman on the Wabash.
The Swiss bell-ringers held
forth a couple of nights this week
in Gatlin's Hall. Those who at
tend say they had a good time and
got the worth of their money.
The subscription put in circula-
ton some time ago to raise money
to paint and fence the church has
secured the necessary amount.
Now let the work be done as soon
as possible, and every one will be
pleased that they helped the mat
ter along.
We wish to say a word in refer
ence to Local Option Some par
ties when the petition to call an
election is presented to them will
say: Eyes, l will sign the petition,
but I will vote against Local OPP
tion," and when asked why they
will vote against, they say, II am
opposed to law defining what a
person may drink. and what they
may not drink; you would just as
well pass law telling people what
to eat, and what not to eat;" then
they will wind up their argument
with the oft repeated boast, "this
is free country, and if men wish
to drink no one has any right to
interfere" Yes, "free country
free for what? For men to make
beasts of themselves? Free for
the husband to come home a
drunken demon and beat his wife
Free for the father to take the last
cent from his half fed, half cloth
ed children and give for that which
renders him unfit, even, for the
loor Office Of hod carrier? Free
for men to make gamblers, coun-
terfeiters, thieves and murderers
of themselves? Gree country"
This is a free country for men tc
do as they please, just so long as
they please to do rig"t and nc
longer; for just SO soon as man
violates the law, then he is not free
foi the law takes him, and he
must answer to the law for his
acts.
We would ask in all candor
which Is most kind; which is most
humane; to p .rmit men to use
to abuse, expresses it better-this
'boasted freedom in way that
causes them to become criminals
in The sight of the law, or step in
and say: Here you must not, and
we will not permit you to use your
freedom to that extent, when
ever you are made criminals in
the estimation of the law, for we
will put away from you that which
causes you to be criminals, and
in putting it away, save you from
the rigors cf the law. "There are
in this nation about 315,000 retail
liquor houses. Allowing twenty
feet to each gives an unbroken
front of 7S1 mills of profanity
and vulgarity; of Sabbath break
ing, drunkard-m ,debauchery,
anarchy, dynamite and bombs;
7Sl miles of political corruption,
hot beds for propagation of all
manner of vices and pollution. u
And now gentlemen, you who
talk about a "free crountry," when
you vote against Local Option,
vote to perpetuate and keep in ex-
istence that which in large
measure make men criminals of
the class enumerated above.
UNCLE Tom.